Fashion & Costume · 18th century
€ 1 350
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Overall good condition with light age-related toning. Minor handling marks consistent with early 18th-century prints. Each engraving is mounted in a passe-partout.
This refined set of original 18th-century copper engravings originates from the celebrated riding manual Reitschule des Baron d’Eisenberg, published around circa 1730. The prints illustrate classical baroque dressage exercises, showing elegantly mounted riders guiding highly trained horses through controlled movements that exemplify balance, collection, and discipline—core principles of early modern equestrian art.
The work is associated with Baron d’Eisenberg, whose riding school manual was influential in codifying European horsemanship during the late Baroque period. Such publications were aimed at aristocratic riders and courtly riding academies, where equestrian skill was considered both a martial discipline and a refined social art. The horses are depicted with anatomical precision and calm authority, while the riders’ posture and attire reflect contemporary aristocratic fashion.
Each engraving is carefully composed against a minimal landscape, allowing full focus on the horse’s movement and the rider’s control. The clarity of the copper engraving, combined with subtle hand coloring, underscores the instructional purpose of the images while also making them highly decorative. These prints bridge the worlds of sporting art, military tradition, and court culture, and they remain particularly sought after by collectors of equestrian imagery and interior designers alike.
All three engravings are uniform in size and style, making them especially appealing as a cohesive set. They work beautifully as a triptych, evoking the elegance and discipline of 18th-century riding schools and the aristocratic culture that sustained them.
Condition report:
Overall good condition with light age-related toning. Minor handling marks consistent with early 18th-century prints. Each engraving is mounted in a passe-partout.
Framing tips:
Display as a horizontal suite in matching frames. Soft ivory mats and dark wood or black frames enhance the subtle coloring and emphasize the classical equestrian forms.
Technique: Copper engraving with hand coloring
Maker: After Baron d’Eisenberg
Date: circa 1730
